Which of the following was not one of the issues that dominated the politics of the North-East till 1980s?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Asymmetrical relationship with the Centre
Option (1) Opposition to outsiders. — One of them (Incorrect). Large-scale migration into the region created resentment against ‘outsiders’; in Assam the AASU led a movement from 1979 against illegal migrants and other outsiders. This is the third of the three issues.
Option (2) Asymmetrical relationship with the Centre — Not one of them (Correct). Only three issues dominated the politics of the North-East: demands for autonomy, movements for secession, and opposition to ‘outsiders’. An asymmetrical relationship with the Centre is not among them.
Option (3) Movements for secession. — One of them (Incorrect). Some groups demanded a separate country, as the Mizo National Front did for two decades until the 1986 accord. This is the second issue.
Option (4) Demands for autonomy. — One of them (Incorrect). Non-Assamese groups demanded political autonomy when they felt the Assam government was imposing the Assamese language on them. This is the first issue.
NCERT (2025-26): “The North-East … The isolation of the region, its complex social character and its backwardness compared to other parts of the country have all resulted in the complicated set of demands from different states of the North-East. The vast international border and weak communication between the North-East and the rest of India have further added to the delicate nature of politics there. Three issues dominate the politics of North-East: demands for autonomy, movements for secession, and opposition to ‘outsiders’. Major initiatives on the first issue in the 1970s set the stage for some dramatic developments on the second and the third in the 1980s.” |